A soccer player who broke an opponent’s nose after he headbutted him in an off-the-ball incident has avoided a jail term. Pádraig Seery (27), a player with Walkinstown side Castle Celtic, was marking Leixlip Town’s captain, Mark Coyne, in a United Churches Football League game when the ball was at the other end of the pitch.
Garda Paul Carney told Lorcan Staines, prosecuting, that Seery, for “no reason”, then kicked Mr Coyne in the ankle before he headbutted him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The referee saw the incident and immediately handed Seery a red card. Mr Coyne was bleeding so heavily that three jerseys were needed to soak up the blood.
Three players from Leixlip Town later told gardaí they saw Mr Coyne with his hands by his side at the time of the head butt, which they described as “totally unprovoked”.
Seery, Whitebrook Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Coyne, causing him harm, at Barnhall, Leixlip, on February 18th, 2012. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Martin Nolan suspended an 18-month jail sentence and ordered Seery to pay €5,000 to the victim. Seery had offered the money as a token of his remorse along with an apology. Garda Carney said the victim was willing to accept both.
Seery met gardaí on May 16th, 2012, and gave a “confused statement”, apologising but claiming he did not attack Mr Coyne. He made a further statement, during which he admitted the assault. He said he had felt wound up, frustrated and angry and he lost control.
A medical report stated Mr Coyne had a broken nose which needed surgery.